Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

{Continued from opposite page) tucky during recent weeks, a general letdown in box office receipts has been reported by the exhibitors. . . . The International Harvester Dealers of Corydon, Ind., presented free family entertainment in G. M. May's Dream theatre at Corydon recently. . . . Visitors on the local scene : Louis Chowning, New Washington; Russell Phillips, Greensburg; M. H. Sparks, Edmonton; Harry Whitefield, Uniontown; Bob Enoch, Elizabethtown ; A. N. Miles, Eminence; Erwin W. Rau, Jr., Leitchfield; Luther Knifley, Knifley; L. B. Fuqua, Eddyville. . . . Only four of Louisville's seven first runs presented new programs during the week. New bills were on tap at the Rialto, "Unconquered", the Mary Anderson, "Always Together" ; the National, vaudeville with "My Dog Shep," and Loew's with "High Wall." "Daisy Kenyon," which enjoyed a good first week at the Rialto was moved to the Brown. The Scoop returned "Body and Soul." . . . Chester Demaree, Loew's, has been reelected president of Local 163, IATSE. MEMPHIS The biggest snowstorm in 56 years and some of the coldest weather in Memphis history resulted in a drop off in attendance at Memphis' four major first run downtown theatres. However, "The High Wall" at Loew's State did well. . . . Cecil Vogel, manager of Loew's Palace, was a little gloomy about attendance at the "Pirates of Monterey" opening, estimating the weather cut the crowd about 50 per cent but said it was better the second day when the weather improved. The Malco, which held over "Unconquered" several days, had a satisfactory week in spite of weather. "Out of the Blue" opened at the Malco the end of the week. Everything considered, "Treasure of Sierra Madre" at the Warner was doing all right, J. H. McCarthy, manager, said. . . . A good attendance from the mid-south was expected at the meeting Friday in Memphis of the state exhibitors and members of the industry. Called by Orris Collins, Paragould, Ark., president Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, the meeting was to be addressed by Robert W. Coyne. MIAMI "The Bishop's Wife," still showing at the Colony, was again shown to Miami 'teenagers gratis on Sunday afternoon, to acquaint them with the show. "Captain from Castile" has made good showings all this week at the Miami and Lincoln theatres. "The Senator Was Indiscreet" is at the Miami and Lincoln. . . . The newest addition to Miami theatres will open soon at 7401 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. It is called the Normandy. "The Best Years of Our Lives" opened at the Embassy and Variety for a special limited engagement, with prices cut. . . . "Cynthia" is at the Sheridan theatre, with "Keeper of the Bees" at the State. . . . Variety Club's Heart Fund Show will be held February 11 at the Beach theatre, with all receipts going to charities in the city. Trailers will run a week in Miami theatres before the show. . . . "Fun and Fancy Free" attracted crowds to the Paramount midnight show. MINNEAPOLIS The year's bitterest cold spell, with temperatures hitting as low as 21 below zero, virtually put theatre business on ice for the week. Box office figures were generally well under averages, although the RKO Orpheum, with Horace Heidt's stage revue, managed to draw a fairly respectable gross. "Sleep My Love," which had looked for a good draw at Radio City, fared rather badly, but was moved over to the Century for a second week. "Louisiana" flunked off at the Gopher and was pulled after six days. "Road to Rio" still was strong enough to earn a fourth week in the loop. . . . Ben Berger's tentative negotiations for leasing the Lyceum have been stalled, according to Ted Bolnick, Berger's partner, by the latter's jaunt to Florida for six weeks. . . . Bobby Berger, son of Ben, has been transferred from assistant manager of the World, St. Paul, to the home office as an assistant bookkeeper. . . . Independent exhibitors are lining up opposition to the plan of Roy Secrest, operator of the neighborhood Princess, to convert the auditorium of an abandoned high school into a 1,200-seat theatre. . . . Pamphlets will be passed out in all St. Paul theatres appealing for a heavy primary vote March 9, which theatremen feel will help defeat that city's recently enacted five per cent amusement tax. . . . Suburban Richfield has increased the annual motion picture theatre license fee from $200 to $300. NEW ORLEANS A decline in box office grosses was reported by downtown houses last week. The unusually cold and rainy weather which the city experienced during the past week was directly accountable for this decline. "Daisy Kenyon" was the feature presentation for the Saenger. "Cass Timberlane" was shown at Loew's State. The Joy theatre presented "Lured." "Treasure of Sierra Madre" played at both the RKO houses, the Orpheum and Liberty. "Henry V" was held over for a second week at the Poche. The Tudor featured "Adventure Island," and the Globe's attraction was "Black Gold." "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was offered by the Center theatre. . . . Alberta Schindler, formerly with Paramount Pictures Corp., is the new stenographer for Film Classics. . . . Visiting Film Row last week were Max Connett, who operates the Roxy theatre, Newton; Milton Guidry, Erath, and Harold Dacey, who manages theatres in Raceland and Lockport. OMAHA Box office grosses slowed to a walk. Cold and snow helped the slowing process. Elmer Heller sold the Pilger theatre, Pilger, Neb., to E. W. Lundgren of Omaha. . . . R. C. Metzger has begun a new theatre, to seat about 350, at Winner, S. D. He already owns the Ritz there. . . . Alice Neal. Warner Brothers office manager, will celebrate 15 years with the Omaha exchange February 15. . . . Borge Iyerson resigned as manager of the first run State and as publicity director. of the R. D. Goldberg houses. . . . Millard Rethwisch is remodeling the Victory theatre at Tilden, Neb. . . . A. M. Seff plans to open the 610-seat Uptown theatre in Sioux City, la., in March. PHILADELPHIA A. M. Ellis Theatres' drive-in to be constructed near the Garden State Racetrack outside of Camden, N. J., is expected to be ready early in May. There will be ramps for parking about 1,000 cars and the 18-acre site will include a large restaurant and modern rest rooms. . . . D. A. McHugh is now managing Henry Friedman's Lawndale. . . . Joe Farrow, who has been with the local MGM exchange for more than 20 years, is now managing the Locust. . . . Matty Preby is no longer managing for Dave Moliver's houses. . . . Henry Rosinsky's Eureka, dropping matinees because of renovations, will close for an entire month to allow for ex tensive alterations. . . . Mike Shulman, former RKO salesman, joined Film Classics as salesman for the Scranton, Pa., territory. . . . Earle W. Sweigert, Paramount division manager, named a sectional chairman for the Red Cross Drive, which gets under way here on March 1. . . . Virginia Everly elected president of the 20th Century-Fox Family Club. . . . Frank Hammerman, active in the exchanges here for the past 25 years, joined Quality Premium Distributors as branch manager handling the Philadelphia territory. . . . Park, Trenton, N. J., reopened after being rebuilt and renovated following a fire. . . . The foreign film policy announced by Warners for the Capitol has been shifted to the circuit's Princess, also in the downtown district, with February 11 listed as the starting date, with the Italian film, "Shoe Shine." PITTSBURGH Bill Shartin, formerly manager of the United Artists exchange here, has resigned as Eagle Lion distributor, to handle Colonial Television products in four states. . . . Sam Fineberg, chief barker of Tent No. 1, Variety Clubs, has returned from a three-week vacation spent with his family in Arizona. ... In its fourth week at the J. P. Harris and Senator, "Gentleman's Agreement" did far better than average for each week. . . . The English "Black Narcissus," which has been getting excellent notices, has been snared away from the Art Cinema theatre, which usually screens all European-made (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 31, 1948 27